Native Son Launches Fellowship For Black LGBTQ+ Creators Focused On HIV Awareness
The Native Son Fellowship, supported by Gilead Sciences, will debut during the organization's 10th Anniversary Awards Weekend.
Native Son has launched a fellowship program to support Black LGBTQ+ creators, advocates, and cultural leaders working to expand awareness of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment resources.
The Native Son Fellowship, supported by Gilead Sciences, will debut during the organization’s 10th Anniversary Awards Weekend, scheduled for June 19-21 in New York. According to a news release, the program aims to equip participants with tools and platforms to foster conversations about health equity, representation, and community wellness.
The initiative builds on an existing partnership between Native Son and Gilead Sciences focused on increasing access to culturally relevant health information and reducing barriers to HIV care.
“Gilead Sciences is proud to support platforms like the Native Son Awards that celebrate leadership, elevate culture, and amplify trusted voices across Black communities,” Rashad Burgess, vice president of Corporate Responsibility at Gilead Sciences, said in a statement.
“Our work at Gilead is grounded in the belief that scientific breakthroughs only matter if they reach the people they are designed to serve. Through partnerships like this, we’re helping confront stigma, remove barriers to care, and advance healthier, more equitable futures.”
The inaugural fellowship cohort includes visual artist Osaze Akil; filmmaker and photographer LaQuann Dawson; content creator Frank Grimsley; therapist and podcast host Shahem McLaurin; filmmaker Trey Sherman; and fashion commentator Jay Tibbitts.
Participants will attend a creator lab, a storytelling incubator, the Native Son Awards, and a fireside conversation featuring singer and actor Terrell Carter and playwright and actor Jordan E. Cooper. The program also includes a post-event advisory roundtable and ongoing content development focused on HIV awareness and community wellness.
“Native Son was founded to create opportunities for Black queer men to be seen, celebrated, and connected to one another,” Emil Wilbekin, founder and CEO of Native Son, said.
“This fellowship builds upon that mission by investing directly in a new generation of storytellers and cultural leaders whose voices carry tremendous influence within our communities.”
Founded in 2016, this national organization focuses on advocacy, leadership development, and cultural engagement for Black queer communities. Past award honorees include Colman Domingo, Billy Porter, Don Lemon, and Lil Nas X.
Billionaire Robert F. Smith Urges Companies Not To Replace Interns With AI
The billionaire investor warns companies not to abandon early-career talent pipelines
As companies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence to streamline operations and automate tasks, billionaire investor Robert F. Smith is urging business leaders not to sacrifice internship programs in the process.
Speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen, Colorado, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners warned that while AI is poised to significantly alter the labor market, organizations must continue creating opportunities for young professionals to enter the workforce.
“I would continue to encourage all of you and businesses that you operate and own to make sure you don’t destroy your intern program,” Smith said, according to Fortune. “That’s an important part of bringing people along and, honestly, of creating optimism and a new group of technologists and thinkers who can carry this world.”
Smith’s comments come as companies across industries experiment with AI agents and automation tools capable of performing tasks once handled by entry-level employees. While acknowledging that the technology will create disruption, he argued that organizations still have a responsibility to develop future talent.
“Agents are workers, workers do tasks, some of those tasks get aggregated into jobs, and there is going to be a massive impact on jobs, no question about it,” Smith said. “Some may say [it will be] a big loss, some may say an expansion—there’s going to be some mix till we reach different states of equilibrium.”
For Smith, the issue is personal. According to Fortune, the Denver native repeatedly contacted Bell Labs as a teenager seeking an internship despite the program being reserved for college upperclassmen. His persistence paid off when the renowned research institution eventually accepted him, setting him on a path that would later help shape one of the most successful careers in private equity. During his time at Bell Labs, Smith developed a semiconductor reliability test and later returned for additional internships while attending Cornell University. Today, Smith oversees Vista Equity Partners, a technology-focused investment firm with approximately 90 software companies in its portfolio.
As AI continues to transform corporate America, Smith believes the solution is not to eliminate entry-level opportunities but to ensure young workers are included in the next chapter of technological innovation. The future of AI should include a pathway for the next generation of talent, not replace it.
Job Training Program Gets A Boost With ‘Workforce Pell Grants’ Available To Students
The workforce Pell Grant program expands federal financial aid eligibility beyond traditional degree programs
Students enrolled in eligible short-term job training programs will be able to access federal Pell Grants beginning July 1, 2026, under a new initiative aimed at helping workers prepare for high-demand careers, The Washington Post reports.
The workforce Pell Grants program expands federal financial aid eligibility beyond traditional degree programs to certain training courses that can be completed in as few as eight weeks. The initiative was authorized through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.
Eligible programs include training in fields such as nursing, commercial truck driving, welding, child care, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning repair. Participating programs must demonstrate strong completion rates, positive earnings outcomes, and alignment with workforce needs to maintain eligibility, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The department issued final regulations for the program on May 18, 2026, allowing colleges and training providers to begin offering approved programs ahead of the July rollout.
“There’s a huge awareness gap,” Devin Purgason, associate vice president of student experience, marketing, and outreach at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told The Hechinger Report.
A survey conducted by education technology company Ellucian found that fewer than half of prospective students interested in nondegree programs were aware that financial aid may be available for short-term workforce training.
State agencies are responsible for determining which programs meet federal requirements, a process that higher education organizations say could prove complex as the initiative expands nationwide.
Supporters say the program could increase access to career training and help address workforce shortages. Critics have raised concerns that inadequate oversight could allow low-performing programs, particularly at some for-profit institutions, to receive federal funding.
Additional guidance on program eligibility and implementation is expected from the U.S. Department of Education before the program launches July 1.
Black Census Project To Poll Record Number Of Black Americans Amid Economic And Civil Rights Concerns
The 2026 Black Census Project aims to gather insights from 300,000 Black Americans as communities confront economic uncertainty, voting rights rollbacks, and growing political unrest
As Black communities across the country grapple with economic instability, attacks on diversity initiatives, and growing concerns over voting rights, the 2026 Black Census Project is launching its largest survey effort yet to better understand the priorities and future vision of Black Americans.
The initiative, led by the Black Futures Lab, aims to collect responses from 300,000 Black Americans this year, making it one of the largest surveys focused specifically on Black communities in U.S. history, reports TheGrio. Originally launched in 2018 by Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza, the Black Census Project was designed to gather data from Black communities to help shape public policy and political agendas. Organizers say this year’s survey arrives during a particularly urgent moment, as Black voters face mounting political and economic challenges nationwide.
“This year’s survey is more forward-looking and rooted in Black dreams,” Alexsis Rodgers, managing director of strategy and impact at Black Futures Lab, told TheGrio. Rodgers said the project is focused not only on documenting the struggles Black Americans face, but also on understanding what Black communities believe the future of government, economic opportunity, and political power should look like.
The survey comes amid renewed national debate over voting rights and Black political representation following recent legal and legislative battles in several Southern states. Civil rights advocates have raised alarms over redistricting efforts and court rulings that critics say weaken protections once guaranteed under the Voting Rights Act, reports The Guardian.
According to Black Futures Lab, previous editions of the Black Census Project directly influenced policy proposals related to housing affordability, healthcare, and economic equity. This year’s survey explores broader structural questions, including whether Americans still trust the two-party system, whether the Electoral College should be reformed, and what role government should play in addressing racial and economic inequality.
Rodgers said the project is ultimately about reclaiming the ability to imagine a stronger future despite present-day hardships.
“We’re under so much attack that it’s robbing us of the space and the freedom to dream,” she told TheGrio.
A Christian Entrepreneur Opens, ‘Eve’s Garden,’ Indiana’s First Black-Owned Deli
Faith-based entrepreneur Myka Gurvitz made history with the launch of Eve's Garden Deli in Indianapolis.
Indiana’s first Black-owned deli has officially opened its doors in Indianapolis, marking a significant milestone for Black entrepreneurship in the Midwest.
Located in the Broad Ripple neighborhood, Eve’s Garden Deli is the brainchild of entrepreneur Myka Gurvitz, who says the business is about much more than serving sandwiches and comfort food. It’s also about creating a legacy for her family and community. The deli, which opened in June, sells sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and other lunch favorites, reports local news channel WTHR.
For Gurvitz, the opening represents years of hard work and perseverance. “It’s very important to me to make history,” she told WTHR, speaking about the historic achievement.
In addition to her work ethic, Gurvitz credits her faith for guiding her through her entrepreneurial journey.
“Eve’s Garden Deli is from Eve from the bible,” she said. “Just leap out on faith,” she added. “Anything you do, I always put God first.”
The mother and entrepreneur says her children and extended family have also played an active role in supporting the business as it gets off the ground.
“I’ve adopted some children through my children, so they all help out,” Gurvitz said.
For Gurvitz, the deli’s success won’t be measured solely by sales. She hopes her story inspires others to pursue their own business dreams and break new ground in their communities.
The opening comes at a time when Black-owned businesses continue to face barriers in accessing capital and scaling operations. Yet, entrepreneurs across the country are increasingly finding ways to build generational wealth through ownership, particularly in industries where Black representation remains limited.
Trump Administration To Challenge Housing Reparations Program For Black Residents
The filing marks the Trump administration's latest effort to scrutinize government programs that consider race in awarding benefits.
The U.S. Department of Justice moved on June 16 to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging a housing reparations program in Evanston, Illinois, arguing the initiative unlawfully distributes benefits based on race, Reuters reports.
The filing marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to scrutinize government programs that consider race in awarding benefits.
The lawsuit centers on Evanston’s Local Reparations Restorative Housing Program, which provides grants of up to $25,000 to eligible Black residents and their descendants for housing-related expenses. City officials created the program to address the effects of discriminatory housing practices, including redlining and restrictive covenants that affected Black residents between 1919 and 1969.
According to court filings, Justice Department attorneys said the program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment because eligibility is limited to Black residents who meet specific ancestry and residency requirements.
Federal attorneys argued the city’s program is not narrowly tailored to remedy past discrimination and relies on race-based criteria without requiring individualized proof of harm.
Evanston launched the initiative in 2021 after approving the nation’s first municipally funded reparations program in 2019. The effort is financed through revenue generated by the city’s cannabis sales tax.
Mayor Daniel Biss said the city intends to defend the program against the federal challenge.
“We are prepared to defend our program,” Biss said, according to the outlet.
Former Evanston Alderwoman Robin Rue Simmons, who spearheaded the initiative, said the program addresses decades of documented housing discrimination that contributed to persistent racial wealth disparities.
“Evanston has set a new precedent. It has shown that racial reparations are possible,” Simmons said to ABC7 Chicago.
The outcome of the case could influence similar reparations efforts under consideration in other cities as local governments explore policies aimed at addressing the long-term effects of historic racial discrimination in housing.
SpaceX’s Rise Could Soon Reach Millions Of Retirement Accounts Through Index Funds
As Elon Musk’s aerospace company moves closer to major stock indexes, financial experts say everyday investors may gain exposure whether they choose to or not.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is poised to become more than just a Wall Street phenomenon. For millions of Americans, the company could soon become a part of their retirement portfolios even if they never intentionally buy a single share.
According to the Associated Press, the aerospace giant’s highly anticipated public debut has sparked growing discussion about the role of index funds and how they could automatically add SpaceX stock to the retirement accounts of everyday investors. The company recently completed what is expected to be the largest initial public offering in history, raising approximately $75 billion and reaching a valuation of roughly $2.1 trillion.
The issue centers on index funds, investment vehicles that automatically track market benchmarks such as the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500. Once a company is added to one of these indexes, funds that mirror those benchmarks are generally required to purchase shares, creating demand from millions of investors who may not even realize they now own a stake in the company, reports WSLS.
SpaceX appears particularly well-positioned for rapid inclusion. Nasdaq recently changed its rules to allow certain mega-cap companies to enter the Nasdaq-100 after as few as 15 trading days, significantly accelerating the timeline for index-fund ownership. Analysts say that if SpaceX joins major indexes, retirement accounts invested in popular exchange-traded funds and mutual funds could quickly gain exposure to the company.
The development has sparked debate among market observers. Supporters argue that index inclusion reflects SpaceX’s growing importance to the economy and gives ordinary investors access to one of the world’s most influential technology companies. Critics, however, question whether passive investors should automatically inherit exposure to a company that some analysts believe is richly valued and carries significant execution risks. Morningstar analysts told AP that SpaceX’s IPO valuation may be substantially higher than what they believe the company is worth.
“Michelle Obama is a man, am I right, America?” Hokit said during a post-fight interview with right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan at UFC Freedom 250, the first professional sporting event to take place at the White House.
For many, the comment might seem easy to dismiss as simply crude, ignorant, or attention-seeking. Others treated it as a joke. But the remark deserves a deeper examination, not because it was new, but because it was all too familiar. And continues to be just as harmful.
Michelle Obama’s is a target of racist and sexist remarks
Michelle Obama has spent years being subjected to racist and sexist attacks questioning her appearance, femininity, and womanhood. But long before social media made these statements commonplace, Black women have been forced to navigate a society that often denies them the grace, softness, and humanity routinely afforded to white women. It is part of a growing phenomenon often referred to as transvestigation, the conspiracy theory that public figures, particularly cis women–a person who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman– are secretly transgender. While often dismissed as internet nonsense, these accusations are rooted in the same logic that fuels anti-trans panic: the belief that strangers have the authority to inspect, evaluate, and determine who is “really” a woman.
For years, opponents of transgender equality have framed their efforts as a matter of protecting women. We have heard arguments about bathrooms, sports, identification documents, healthcare, and public accommodations. We are told that these debates are about safety, fairness, and common sense. But this past Sunday revealed something else.
What happened at the White House was not simply an attack on Michelle Obama. It was a reminder of how racism, misogyny, and transphobia often work together and how the harm of anti-trans rhetoric extends far beyond transgender people. And the insult only works if people agree that being perceived as transgender is something shameful. The joke relies on the assumption that being mistaken for a trans woman is inherently humiliating. That assumption is not incidental to the attack. It is the attack.
Already, transgender women often bear the brunt of this system. They face harassment, discrimination, and violence simply for existing in public. Being publicly accused, singled out, or “outed” can lead to discrimination, harassment, loss of employment, housing instability, and violence. And Black transgender women in particular continue to face disproportionate rates of violence and fatal attacks. But once we normalize the idea that womanhood can be questioned based on appearance, there is no logical stopping point. The policing of gender has never remained confined to one group. The scrutiny inevitably expands to anyone who fails to conform to society’s expectations. And our society continues to attempt to treat womanhood as something that must be verified, inspected, and proven. Everyone has become vulnerable. The question stops being whether someone is a woman and becomes whether they are woman enough. And we’ve already seen the consequences.
And Black women, in particular, have long been forced to carry this burden.
A Eurocentric Standard of Femininity
The National Black Justice Collective has noted that women of color are disproportionately accused of being transgender or intersex because of racist assumptions about their bodies and rigid demands for gender conformity. Across the country, cisgender women have reported being harassed in public restrooms because someone decided they looked too masculine. Female athletes have had their bodies scrutinized and their identities questioned. Women whose appearance falls outside narrow and often white-centered Eurocentric beauty standards are subjected to invasive speculation about their bodies and identities.
The history of misogynoir, the specific intersection of anti-Black racism and sexism experienced by Black women, is filled with examples of Black women being denied femininity. Black women have been stereotyped as aggressive, masculine, hypersexual, physically imposing, and fundamentally different from the delicate idea of womanhood that American culture has historically reserved for white women.
World-class athletes like Venus and Serena Williams and Brittney Griner have had their bodies mocked and masculinized. Artists such as Ciara and Megan Thee Stallion have faced similar attacks online. Time and again, Black women are told that their strength makes them less feminine, that their physical features make them suspicious, or that their existence somehow requires explanation.
And so the message becomes clear. If a woman does not fit a narrow, Eurocentric standard of femininity, her womanhood becomes open for debate. And that same logic sits at the heart of modern anti-trans rhetoric.
That is why transphobia, or transmisia, a term that I personally prefer because it shifts the conversation from fear to active prejudice and systemic discrimination, is not solely a transgender issue. It is a cultural and justice issue. And it’s why this is not merely a disagreement about language or policy. This shapes how people move through the world. It influences who is protected and who is considered deserving of dignity. A reality that other activists have been saying for years.
And frankly, it’s getting old, and it’s getting tired.
When a public figure can stand on White House grounds and casually repeat transphobic and racist language about a former first lady, it signals how normalized this rhetoric has become. It tells us that questioning a woman’s identity has become acceptable entertainment. It tells us that some people still view accusations of being transgender as a punchline. That trans people are a joke to them.
But there is nothing funny about a culture that teaches people to distrust women based on how they look. There is nothing harmless about rhetoric that encourages strangers to evaluate, investigate, and challenge another person’s identity. And there is certainly nothing protective about a movement that claims to defend women while simultaneously creating an environment where women are constantly forced to prove themselves.
It’s not that Michelle Obama deserves better because she is Michelle Obama. It’s that all women, cis, trans, and/or queer, deserve better because they are people.
We should not have to meet a particular standard of beauty, softness, size, race, or presentation to be respected and treated with decency. We should not have to perform femininity to satisfy strangers. And we should not have to fear that our identities will be questioned simply because someone believes we do not look the way a woman is supposed to look.
The answer is not deciding who counts as a woman. It is recognizing the humanity of all women and rejecting the systems that encourage us to treat their identities as public property. Because the moment we grant people permission to decide who is “really” a woman, we create a world where every woman is subject to judgment and none of us are truly safe from it.
Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney (41): Senior pastor and South Carolina State Senator dedicated to justice and community uplift.
Cynthia Graham Hurd (54): Lifelong librarian who spent 31 years opening doors of literacy and opportunity.
Susie Jackson (87): Beloved church matriarch, longtime choir member, and the emotional anchor of her family.
Ethel Lee Lance (70): Deeply devoted church sexton who cared for the historic sanctuary and welcomed all with love.
Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor (49): Ordained minister, university administrator, and devoted mother of four.
Tywanza Sanders (26): Brave recent college graduate, aspiring entrepreneur, and poet who died protecting his family.
Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr. (74): Retired pastor and veteran who continued to serve and share his deep wisdom.
Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (45): Revered minister, high school track coach, and speech therapist who inspired youth.
Rev. Myra Thompson (59): Passionate educator and newly licensed minister dedicated to spiritual leadership.
In the wake of unimaginable tragedy, the families of the victims answered hatred with profound grace, extending forgiveness and uniting a nation. Today, we carry forward the legacy of the Emanuel Nine by committing to love, justice, and community. May their light continue to shine.
Forbes Names Top Immigrant Changemakers, Black And Brown Leaders Take Center Stage
The ranking was released as part of the media company's commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026.
Among those recognized on the new Forbes list are several prominent Black entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and artists whose work spans industries from artificial intelligence and finance to entertainment and publishing.
Forbes unveiled its inaugural “Forbes 250: America’s Most Successful Living Immigrants” list, recognizing foreign-born leaders whose contributions have helped shape U.S. business, technology, culture, and philanthropy.
The ranking, released as part of the media company’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, spotlights immigrants who have generated significant economic and cultural impact after building their careers in the United States. Forbes editors evaluated candidates based on factors such as influence, wealth creation, leadership, and societal contributions.
Cameroonian-born NBA star Joel Embiid, who became a U.S. citizen in 2022, was included for his achievements on and off the court.
Other honorees include Nigerian-born author and speaker Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
According to Forbes, nearly 50 million foreign-born residents live in the United States, accounting for roughly 15% of the nation’s population. The publication said immigrants have founded or co-founded many of the country’s largest companies and continue to play a significant role in driving innovation and economic growth.
“Since its inception, America has been a place where people come to turn ambition into opportunity and possibility into reality,” Forbes Chief Content Officer Randall Lane said in a statement announcing the ranking.
